Drapery pleater



M. J. RONAY DRAPERY PLEATER July 7, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet i Filed June 18, 1968 w 0 R J U m S r 0 M INVESTOR M elm M 3M5 M. J. RONAY DRAPERY PLEATER .Euly 7, 1970 3 Sheots-$heot 2.

Filed June 18, 1968 Marshall J. Ronay INVENTOR.

I BY M M. J. N APERY PLEATER 5 sheetsfihe t 5 Filed June 18, 1968 &/ 1

Marshall J. Randy 9 BY 2 r a,

I Int. Cl. A41h 43/00 US. Cl. 22 334 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elongated support member having a plurality of clamp assemblies supported therefrom for adjustable positioning therealong and including opposing plate-like jaw portions adapted to clampingly engage spaced marginal edge portions of a drapery section. A plurality of different length spacing members are provided and positionable between the clamp assemblies for spacing the latter precisely along the support member, the clamp assemblies each being adapted to maintain the portions of the associated drapery section gripped thereby in coplanar relation and the spacing members being readily removable from between the clamp assemblies, whereby the latter may be shifted lengthwise of the support member into closely spaced positions after having been engaged with an associated drapery marginal edge portion to thereby fold the portions of the drapery marginal edge portion disposed between adjacent clamp assemblies for pleating purposes.

This application comprises a continuation-in-part application of my copending application Ser. No. 674,257, filed Oct. 10, 1967 for Drapery Pleater, now abandoned.

The drapery pleater of the instant invention has been primarily designed to provide a means whereby various width drapery sections may be precisely folded for pleating in a manner to form a pleated drapery section of a predetermined width.

The drapery pleater is constructed in a manner whereby the pleats folded into any given drapery section may be composedvof a predetermined length of. a marginal edge portion of the drapery section before folding in order that a drapery section of a predetermined width before foldingmay be folded in a manner to form a pleated drapery section of a predetermined width.

The main object of this invention is to provide an apparatus by which a drapery section may be readily precisely folded for. pleating purposes. Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby a drapery section to be pleated may be engaged with the pleater in a manner operative to perform precisely spaced pleat folds in the associated drapery section with only very simple arithmeticcomputations being required inorder to form a finished pleated drapery section of predetermined width from various widths of unpleated drapery sections.

Yetanother object of this invention is to provide a drapery pleateroperative to frictionally and'readily removably engage the marginal edge portion of the unpleated drapery section which is to be pleated at a predetermined number of points spaced longitudinally along the associated drapery section marginal edge portion with the drapery section, in each area being frictionally gripped, being maintained in planar condition.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a drapery pleater which will conform to conventional forms 'of manufacture, be of United States Patent simple construction and easy to'use so as to provide a 3,519,174 Patented July 7, 1970 device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the drapery pleater of the instant invention without the spacing blocks being disposed between adjacent drapery section clamp assemblies;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the drapery pleater illustrating a plurality of the clamp assemblies operatively clampingly engaged with an unfolded drapery section and with one of the spacing blocks being positioned between one pair of adjacent clamp assemblies;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the spacing block removed and the clamp assemblies of the drapery pleater shifted into closely adjacent position so as to fold the drapery section engaged thereby for pleating;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through one of the clamp assemblies illustarted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the plurality of dilferent size spacing blocks which may be utilized in conjunction with the drapery pleater;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of clamp assembly which may be utilized in lieu of the clamp assembly illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view of a second modified form of clamp assembly in assembled condition;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating the second modified form of clamp assembly supported from the clamp assembly support rod of the pleater; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 8 but illustrating the second modified form of clamp assembly with its plate-like jaw portions disposed in spaced apart relation so as to readily receive the marginal edge portion of a drapery section therebetween.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the drapery pleater of the instant invention. The pleater 10 includes an elongated support member referred to in general by reference numeral 12 and a plurality of drapery section clamp or gripping assemblies generally referred to by the reference numerals 14.

The support member 12 includes a base panel 16 extending longitudinally of the support member 12 and which has a pair of opposite end upstanding wall members 18 secured to its opposite ends in any convenient manner. Further, the support member 12 includes an upstanding longitudinal panel or wall member 20 extending between the end walls 18 and positioned centrally intermediate the opposite longitudinal edge portions of the base panel 16. The wall member 20 includes a horizontal upper surface 22 and a generally cylindrical support rod 24 extends between the end walls 18 on one side of the wall member 20 spaced a distance below the upper support surface 22 of the wall member 20.

Each of the gripping or clamp assemblies 14 includes a panel-like member constructed of stiff but somewhat resilient material folded in half to form a pair of upper and lower leaves 26 and 28 joined at one pair of corresponding edge portions by means of a U-shaped bend. The marginal edge portions of the leaves 26 and 28 remote from the U-shaped bend are curved slightly away from each other as at 2-6 and 28' so as to form an entrance throat 32'into which the marginal edge portion 3 of a drapery section may be readily advanced for positioning between the leaves 26 and 28 of each gripping assembly 14.

Each gripping or clamping assembly 14 further includes a pair of depending support lugs 34 having keyhole openings 36 formed therein. The support lugs 34 depend downwardly from the side marginal edge portions of each of the leaves 28 adjacent the corresponding bend 30 and the keyhole openings or slots 36 open outwardly through the edge portions of the support lugs 34 which face toward the corresponding throat 32.

The opposite end portions of the support rod 24 are secured in aligned bores formed in the end walls 18 by means of setscrews 40 and the support rod 24 is snugly received through the inner generally circular portion of each keyhole opening 36. Of course, the support lugs 34 may be slightly inclined relative to each other so that the portions thereof defining the openings 36 may frictionally engage the support rod 24. In this manner, the support lugs 34 mount the gripping assemblies 14 from the support rod 24 for oscillatory movement about the longitudinal axis of the support rod 24 and also longi tudinal shifting of the gripping assemblies 14 along the support rod 24. It is also to be understood that the support rods 34 are operative to frictionally releasably retain the gripping assemblies 14 in adjusted positions longitudinally along the support rod 24.

The upper support surface 22 of the wall member is provided with suitable measuring indicia 42 and each of the gripping or clamping assemblies 14 includes a spring member 44 anchored to the bent portion of each gripping assembly 14 and applying a thrust on the leaves 26 of each gripping assembly 14 to urge the free edge portion of each leaf 26 toward the free edge portion of the corresponding leaf 28.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 5 of the drawings there may be seen a plurality of spacer blocks 46, 48, 50 and 52 which are 3 /2, 4, 4 /2 and 5 inches in length, respectively. These spacing blocks may be positioned between the gripping assemblies 14 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings after a drapery section has been engaged by the gripping assemblies 14.

In operation, and assuming that an unpleated drapery section 54 is provided which is 28 inches Wide in unfolded condition, the drapery section 54 is positioned with its marginal edge portion 56 to be pleated between the leaves 26 and 28 of four of the gripping assemblies 14. The gripping assembly 14 adjacent the far end wall 18 may be spaced approximately 1% inches from that end wall 118 as at 58 in order to provide an extra width section at one edge portion of the drapery section 54 and if the finished pleated drapery is to be approximately 18 /2 inches in width when finished, the 3 /2 inch spacing block 46 is selected and utilized to space the adjacent gripping assemblies 14 exactly 3 /2 inches apart by shifting the gripping assemblies 14 longitudinally along the support rod 24. The gripping assemblies 14 are 4 inches in width and the four gripping assemblies 14 thereby occupy 16 inches of the marginal edge portion 56. The spacing block 46 is used three times and is thereby used to provide 3 /2 inches of the marginal edge portion 56 between each pair of adjacent gripping assemblies 14. Accordingly, the amount of the marginal edge portions 56 extending between the adjacent gripping assemblies 14 totals 10 /2 inches in length which when added to the 16 inches of marginal edge portion 56 covered by the gripping assembly 14 and the 1% inch spacing as at 58 totals 28 inches. Then, the gripping assemblies 14 are slid longitudinally of the support rod 24 toward closely adjacent positions such as those illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings whereby three pleat folds 60, 62 and 64 are formed in the drapery section 54. The folded drapery section 54 is now 18 /2 inches in width since the width of the drapery section 54 has been reduced by 10% inches representing the total length of the spacing occupied by the spacing block 46 minus approximatelyl inch provided in the bends of the drapery section 54 adjacent the gripping assemblies 14. Thus, the folded drapery section 54 is approximately 18 /2 inches in width. Of course, the pleat folds '60, 62 and 64 may be readily pinned for future stitching.

If it is desired to have the drapery section 54 narrower when folded, longer spacing blocks can be used with or without shorter spacing in the area 58 or a fewer number of pleats may be formed. a

Further, the support member 12 may be constructed of any desired length so as to accommodate even extremely wide drapery sections and spacing blocks other than blocks 46, 48, 50 and 52 may be used. 7

With reference now more specifically to the first modified form of clamp assembly illustrated in FIG. 6 and which is generally designated by the reference numeral 114, it may be seen that the clamp assembly 114 includes a pair of hinge leaves 126 and 128 similar to the leaves 26 and 28 of the clamping or gripping assemblies 14. Corresponding marginal edge portions of the leaves 126 and 128 include intergral journal portions 127 and 129 and it is to be appreciated that the journal portion 127 is receivable between the journal portions 129 in position with the journal portion 127 aligned iwth the journal portions 129 in order that a hinge or pivot pin 130 may be passed through the journals 127 and 129 hingedly se curing the leaf 126 to the leaf 128.

The marginal edge portions of the leaves 126 and 128 remote from the journal portions 127 and 129 curve slightly away from each other as at 126 and 128' to define an entrance throat 132 between the leaves 126 and 128. Further, each leaf 128 includes a pair of depending support lugs 134 having keyhole openings 136 formed therein similar to openings 36. Also, a spring assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 144 is provided and includes a pair of aligned coiled portions 145 which are receivable between the remote ends of the journal portion 127 and the adjacent ends of the journal portions 129. Of course, the hinge or pivot pin 130 extends through the coiled portions 145 and the spring assembly includes a pair of arm portions 147 which are yieldingly biased toward each other and engage and bear against the remote surfaces of the leaves 126 and 128 so as to yieldingly urge the portions of the leaves 126 and 12 8 defining the entrance throat 132 toward each other.

Thus, it may be seen that the operation of a pleater such as pleater 10 provided with clamp assemblies 114 in lieu of clamp assemblies 14 would operate. in substantially the samemanner. The support lugs '134 are operative to support the clamp assemblies 114 from the support rod 24 in a manner similar to that by which the clamp assemblies 14 are supported from the rod 24 and therefore it may be appreciated that the clamp assemblies 114 may be mounted upon and adjustably shifted longitudinally of the support rod 24.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 79 of the drawings there may be seen still another modified form of clamp assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 214. The clamp assembly 214 may ibe utilized in lieu of the clamp assemblies 14 and 114 and each clamp assembly 214 includes a pair of plate-like portions 226 and 228 corresponding to leaves 126 and 128 and defining an entrance throat 232 between one pair of corresponding marginal edge portions thereof. In addition, the plate-like jaw portion 228 includes downwardly directed opposite side support lugs 234 which are similar to the support lugs 34 and 134 and are provided so as to enable the clamp assemblies 214 to be supported from the support rod 24.

However, the clamp assembly 214 differs from the clamp assemblies 14 and 114 in that the marginal edge portion of the lower plate portion 228 remote from the entrance throat 232 terminates in a downwardly directed flange portion 236 which in turn terminates in a horizontally disposed flange portion 238. Likewise, the marginal edge portion of the jaw portion or plate 226 remote from the entrance throat 232 terminates rearwardly in a downwardly directed flange portion 240 which is vertically shorter than the flange portion 236 and which terminates at its lower marginal edge portion in a horizontally disposed flange portion 242 disposed over and spaced above the flange portion 238. Further, the flange portion 236 includes a pair of mounting tabs 244 which may be secured to or integrally formed with the flange portion 236 and which overlie opposite marginal edge portions of the flange portion 236 in spaced relation relative thereto so as to define, with the flange portion 236, opposing channels in which to slidingly receive the flange portion 240 for vertical shifting relative to the flange portion 236.

In addition, the flange portion 238 has a plurality of upstanding threaded fasteners 246 secured therethrough and whose upper end portions extend through openings 24 8 provided therefor in the horizontal flange portion 242. The upper ends of the fasteners 248 project above the flange portion 242 and have compression springs 250 captively retained thereon by means of threaded nuts 252 engaged with the threaded upper ends of the fasteners 246. Further, two portions of the central area of the horizontal flange portion 242 are struck upwardly to form mounting tabs 254 and an opening 256 through the horizontal flange portion 242 disposed between the tab portions 254 and also to provide supports for the opposite ends of a pivot shaft 258 extending between the mounting tabs 254 upon which a journal portion 260 formed integrally with the free terminal end of an angulated end portion 262 on one end of an actuating lever 264 is rotatably disposed. As can best be seen from a compression of FIGS. 8 and 9, the free end of the actuating lever 264 remote from the journal portion 260 may be depressed downwardly so as to cam the horizontal flange portion 242 of the upper jaw member defined by the portion 226 and the flange portions 240 and 242 upwardly relative to the lower jaw member of the clamp assembly 214 defined by the portions 228, 236 and 238 against the biasing action of the springs 250. Thus, the portions 226 and 228 may be shifted apart by depressing the free swinging end of the actuating lever 264 and causing the latter to be shifted from the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings to the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 9, in which position the actuating lever 264 is operative to retain the portions 226 and 228 in spaced apart relation for receiving the marginal edge portion of a drapery section therebetween.

From the foregoing it will therefore be appreciated that the clamp assemblies 14, 114 and 214 each operates in generally the same manner and serve to support the same general operation of the pleater 10. While the clamp assemblies 114 are constructed of stiff but somewhat resilient material, the portions or leaves 126 and 128 as well as portion 226 and 228 need not be constructed of resilient material. Further, wherever desired, materials utilized in constructing the pleater 10 will be of noncorrosive types so as to eliminate any possibility of soiling any drapery sections coming in contact therewith. Also, the particular pleating functions to be performed by the pleater may vary the dimensions of the various clamp assemblies and spacing blocks as well as the overall length of the pleater 10.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A drapery pleater comprising an elongated support member, a plurality of drapery section gripping assemblies mounted on said support member for stationary adjustable positioning longitudinally therealong between relative spaced apart positions and closely adjacent positions, said gripping assemblies including gripping means for frictionally gripping spaced marginal edge portions of drapery section when said assemblies are spaced apart and being thereafter shiftable to said adjacent positions for moving the gripped drapery edge portions together and thereby forming folds in the drapery section as said assemblies are moved to said closely adjacent positions, spacing means adapted to be supported from the portions of a drapery section gripper by said gripping assemblies and to abuttingly engage adjacent portions of pairs of adjacent gripping assemblies to limit movement of adjacent gripping assemblies toward each other and thereby accurately evenly space the gripping assemblies along the support member, said spacing means comprising elongated spacing blocks including opposite end portions adapted to be abuttingly engaged by said adjacent portions of pairs of adjacent gripping assemblies.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said gripping assemblies each include means operative to maintain the portion of the marginal edge portion of the drapery section gripped thereby in substantially planar condition throughout a predetermined length of said marginal edge portion extending along said elongated member and gripped by said gripping members.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said gripping assemblies includes a pair of closed adjacent generally parallel panel defining portions between which the corresponding marginal edge portions of the associated drapery section is adapted to be frictionally received.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said gripping assemblies each include means operative to maintain the portion of the marginal edge portion of the drapery section gripped thereby in substantially planar condition throughout a predetermined length of said marginal edge portion extending along said elongated member and gripped by said gripping members, said gripping means each including a pair of generally parallel panel defining portions opposing each other and yieldingly urged toward engagement with each other and between which the associated marginal edge portion of the corresponding drapery section may be removably clamped.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said elongated support member includes an elongated rod extending longitudinally thereof, said gripping assemblies each being slidably mounted on said rod for adjustable positioning longitudinally therealong and also supported from said rod for oscillation about its longitudinal axis.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said gripping assemblies each include means operative to maintain the portion of the marginal edge portion of the drapery section gripped thereby in substantially planar condition throughout a predetermined length of said marginal edge portion extending along said elongated rod and gripped by said gripping members.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said elongated support member includes an elongated rod extending longitudinally of said support member, said gripping assemblies each including a pair of generally planar plate sections disposed in generally parallel closey adjacent positions, said plate sections including one pair of corresponding end portions defining a throat opening into the area between said plate sections and a second pair of corresponding end portions, means operatively interconnecting said second pair of corresponding end portions and acting upon said plate sections to urge said first set of corresponding end portions toward engagement with each other, means carried by each of said gripping assemblies adjacent said second pair of end portions of said plate members mounting said gripping assemblies on said rod with the latter extending transverse- 1y of said second pair of end portions and generally paralleling said plate sections, said means mounting said gripping assemblies on said rod including means supporting said gripping assembly for oscillation about the longitudinal axis of said rod, said elongated support member including means engageable by portions of said gripping assemblies spaced laterally of said rod and operative to limit oscillation of said gripping assemblies in one position to positions with corresponding plate sections of said gripping assemblies being disposed in substantially coplanar relation.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said gripping assemblies includes a pair of closely adjacent generally parallel panel defining portions having one pair of corresponding edge portions adapted to receive the corresponding drapery section edge portion therebetween, the corresponding edge portions of said panel defining portions remote from said one pair of edge portions comprising adjacent integral portions of a plate-like member folded back upon itself.

9. The combination of claim 8 including spring means operatively associated with said integral portions and yieldingly biasing said one pair of edge portions together.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said gripping assemblies includes a pair of closely adjacent generally parallel panel defining portions having one pair of corresponding edge portions adapted to receive the corresponding drapery section edge portion therebetween, the corresponding edge portions of said panel defining portions remote from said pair of edge portions being hingedly secured together for relative swinging of said one pair of edge portions toward and away from each other, and spring means operatively associtaed with said panel defining portions and yieldingly biasing said one pair of edge portions together.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said gripping assembiles includes a pair of closely adjacent generally parallel panel defining portions having one pair of corresponding edge portions adapted to receive the corresponding drapery section edge portion therebetween, and the corresponding edge portions of said panel defining portions remote from said one pair of edge portions including superposed generally right angulated flange portions, means supporting one of said angulated flange portions from the other for relative shifting thereof to move said panel defining portions toward and away from each other, and force means operatively connected between said panel defining portions for relatively biasing the latter toward each other.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the free edge portions of said angulated edge portions terminate in flange portions generally paralleling said panel defining portions, the last-mentioned means being operatively connected between the last-mentioned flange portions.

13. The combination of claim 12 including selectively actuatable cam means operatively associated with said last-mentioned flange portions for urging the latter apart against the biasing action of said force means and releasably retaining said last-mentioned flange portions in spaced apart relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,251,516 1/ 1918 Hardest 22328 X 3,058,634 10/ 1962 Wieneke 223-28 3,122,290 2/1964 Mitchell 223-28 3,236,425 2/1966 Sipe 223-37 3,297,215 1/1967 Soto 22328 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 24-81 

